Underdog Wins Top “French Oscar”

2nd March 2005

L’Esquive, a low budget film about an introverted boy set in a Paris suburb, has won the top prize at this year’s Césars.

L’Esquive, a low budget film about an introverted boy set in a Paris suburb, has won the top prize at this year’s Césars, beating out strong competition from A Very Long Engagement (which had been the favourite to win) and the Oscar-nominated Les Choristes. L’Esquive (which translates as “The Dodge”) also won the awards for Best Director (Abdel Kechiche) and Best Screenplay.

Mathieu Almaric won his second César for his role as a musician plotting an escape from an asylum in Rois et Reine, whilst Yolande Moreau directed herself to the Best Actress award for Quand La Mer Monte. Moreau had a very small role in Amélie, yet beat her former co-star Audrey Tatou to the award this year.

A Very Long Engagement won four awards (Best Supporting Actress for Marion Cotillard, Best Cinematography, Best Costume Design and Best Production Design), whilst Les Choristes won for Best Sound and Best Original Score.

Lost In Translation won yet another award, this time for Best Foreign Language Film, whilst there was a British triumph as Ken Loach’s Ae Fond Kiss shared the César for Best EU Film, along with Emir Kusturica’s Life Is A Miracle.